Next Round of Rain on the Way

The chance of rain continues into the first weekend of 2011

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A couple holds and umbrella while walking on the Ocean Beach Pier during a powerful rainstorm on December 21, 2010 in San Diego, California.

The rain that doused the Southland over the past week is gone, but more could arrive Tuesday night and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

A fast-moving Pacific storm system is expected to pass through the region on Wednesday, with showers developing from the northwest Tuesday evening.

Viewer Rainbow Images: December 2010

With the ground already soggy, and some roads still closed because of flooding and debris flows, the additional rain could cause more problems, especially in the burn areas. Preliminary rainfall estimates are a half-inch to an inch along the coast and in the valleys, with up to two inches in the mountains.

Four to 8 inches of snow could fall at the higher elevations.

Viewer Storm Images: December 2010

Snow levels will "plummet'' Wednesday night and early Thursday, as very strong northerly winds will bring some of the coldest temperatures of the season to the region, according to the Weather Service.

Temperatures on Thursday and Friday will be 5 to 15 degrees below normal, with some mountain and desert locations dipping to 20 degrees below normal.

Storm Images: Aftermath in Highland

Wind, Snow in Tejon Pass

The storm is forecast to bring winds and snow in the Tejon Pass and other north-facing mountain areas Wednesday and Thursday. Gusting winds up to 70 miles per hour are possible overnight Wednesday into Thursday in the mountains of Los Angeles County, Rorke said.

The conditions could make for an unpleasant couple of days in the mountains, especially for motorists on the "High 5" sections of the Golden State Freeway in northwest LA County, Rorke said.